Emergency services in Cumbria dealt with more than 100 road traffic incidents earlier, all caused by freezing rain.

The A66 trans-Pennine route was closed for several hours after a number of lorries jackknifed near Stainmore.

The M6 and the A66 near Penrith also saw a number of crashes. There were no serious injuries reported.

The Met Office say there will be further risk of ice overnight, with temperatures again dropping below zero.

Police have urged drivers not to take to the roads unless journeys are "absolutely necessary".

Some schools were also closed as a precaution.

A Cumbria Police spokesman said all the collisions were reported between 05:00 GMT and 11:00 GMT.

He said: "All of the county's roads have been affected by ice and we are warning people to take care.

Snapshot of ice accidents

At 04:56 GMT a lorry jackknifed near the Stainmore Cafe, Kirkby Stephen, the driver was not injured and the road was cleared at 06:15

At 06:48 at Haile, Egremont, a Seat Altea driven by a woman from Egremont and a Ford Focus driven by a man from Whitehaven were involved in a collision, no one was injured

At 07:05 on the A684 Kendal, multiple cars skidded off the road, no serious injuries

At 08:05 on the A66 near Penrith multiple cars were involved in a collision. No-one was seriously injured

"If your journey is not essential, then please do not drive. If you do have to travel, please take extreme care when driving, slow down and keep a substantial braking distance from the car in front."

Health officials said accident and emergency staff at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle were working hard to deal with numerous victims of road accidents who had suffered non life-threatening injuries.

Derek Cartwright, director of emergency services for the North West Ambulance Service, said: "We have already experienced a higher number of road traffic collisions than normal in Cumbria and we are urging the public to take extra care whilst out on the roads.

"We need older people and those who have long-term conditions to make sure they keep taking their medication and have sufficient supplies so that they don't need to go out for more during the cold spell.

'Milder air'

Some bus services were also affected, including the Fellrunner service from Langwathby to Penrith, which was cancelled.

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Elsewhere in the north of England, six vehicles, including a double-decker bus, crashed on the Felling bypass and several vehicles collided on Blaydon Highway flyover, both in Gateshead.

Durham Police said they had received reports of a number of minor collisions around County Durham and Darlington. They warned drivers to use "extreme caution".

Plunging temperatures and icy conditions also led to a number of road accidents across North Yorkshire. Police said black ice led to problems in Skipton, Otley and Settle and one motorist said the A65 near Giggleswick was "like glass".

BBC weatherman Paul Mooney said rain falling on to frozen roads had created sheet ice and led to hazardous roads and pavements.

He said: "When that rain and drizzle hits those freezing roads and pavements it just freezes instantly and creates sheet ice.

"It might just look like a damp road or pavement but it's really ice and very, very dangerous."